256 THE SMUGGLER. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



SIR EDWARD DIGBY did not take advantage of the oppor- 

 tunity which Mrs. Barbara's absence afforded him. This may 

 seem extraordinary conduct in a good soldier and quick and 

 ready man ; but he had his reasons for it. Not that he was 

 beginning to hesitate, as some men do, when, after having 

 quite made up their minds, they begin to consider all the perils 

 of their situation, and retreat, without much regard for their own 

 consistency, or the feelings of the other persons interested. 

 But no, Digby justly remembered that what he had to say 

 might require some time, and that it might produce some 

 agitation. Moreover, he recollected that there are few things 

 so disagreeable on earth, as being interrupted at a time when 

 people's eyes are sparkling or in tears, when the cheek is 

 flushed or deadly pale; and as he knew not when Mrs. Barbara 

 might return, and certainly did not anticipate that she would 

 be long absent, he resolved to wait for another opportunity. 



When he found minute after minute slip by, however, he 

 began to repent of his determination ; and certainly, although 

 the word love never passed his lips, something very like the 

 reality shone out in his eyes. Perhaps, had Zara been in any 

 of her usual moods, more serious words might have followed. 

 Had she been gay and jesting, or calm and thoughtful, a thou- 

 sand little incidents might have led on naturally to the unfold- 

 ing of the heart of each. But, on the contrary, she was 

 neither the one nor the other. She was evidently anxious, 

 apprehensive, ill at ease; and though she conversed rationally 

 enough for a person whose mind was in such a state, yet she 

 frequently turned her eyes towards the door of the adjoining 

 room, from which the sound of her father's voice and that of 

 Mr. Radford might still be heard. 



Sir Edward Digby endeavoured to gain her attention to 

 himself, as much with a view to withdraw it from unpleasant 

 subjects as anything else; and it was very natural that, with 



